Everything 80s

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Pee-Wee's Playhouse Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

When it first aired in September 1986, no one was quite sure what to think of it--especially critics and parents. It was loud, bold, colorful, and crazy...and kids loved it.

This is the story of one of the most remarkable kids' shows ever made. A show that provided an educational component, but they also promised you the nuttiest establishment you've ever seen. All you had to do was spend the day with Pee-Wee and you'll see what they mean...

It was wacky, it was nutty, golly, it was even cuckoo, because when you landed there, you landed in a place where anything can happen...This is the history of Pee-Wee's Playhouse.

The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

The Remarkable Story of Tony Hand: The Scottish Wayne Gretzky Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

As we enter the mid-80s, the Edmonton Oilers are on top of the hockey world. And on the best team was also the best player in the world: Wayne Gretzky.

But while all this was going on, something remarkable had also been happening in the hockey world, and in the most unlikely place. You may not know the name Tony Hand, but in 1986, both he and the Oilers eventually crossed paths--and the results were nothing short of extraordinary.

This is a story that's about more than sports; it's about how greatness can come from anywhere...

Bonus audio content: Patreon.com/80s

10 Forgotten Movies: Rediscovering 1980s Hidden Gems May 29, 2024

Show notes

They couldn't all be hits... During a decade that gave us so many beloved classics, there were other great movies that just flew under the radar.

Whether it was too much competition, inadequate marketing, or bad timing, there are plenty of 1980s movies that could have been big hits, but just weren't.

Today we look back at ten of those movies. Movies that had everything going for them; big-time directors, huge stars, exciting stories, and cutting-edge special effects. But because of a variety of issues, they just didn't reach the heights of other classics from the 80s.

The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

Rewind: A Look Back at 1983 May 22, 2024

Show notes

We're three years into a new decade and the 80s as we know it is starting to take shape. From the movies to TV shows, and music to video games, things are changing quickly--and pop culture would never be the same.

Welcome to Rewind and an all-new version of my review of 1983. We look back on all the big pop culture moments along with sports and the tech that made up a remarkable year.

And speaking of tech, 1983 brings us two critical innovations. Innovations that would have a bigger impact on our lives today than anyone could have ever imagined...

The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

The Best Snacks & Junk Food of the 1980s May 15, 2024

Show notes

Armed with a pocket full of change, you walk through those sliding doors and are greeted by a wonderland of amazing options as far as the eye can see. The biggest issue you face is what do you choose; candy, chocolate, chips, or a drink?

This is a look back on the best snacks and junk food from the 80s, a decade that gave us some of the greatest products of all time. Products that are still with us to this day. But then, there are also some less fortunate favorites that didn't last long and went to that big convenience store in the sky...

Top Gun movie review: Patreon.com/80s

The First Cell Phone: The Mobile Revolution Begins... May 08, 2024

Show notes

There's a good chance you're reading this on your phone right now. And that phone of yours has some humble origins that go all the way back to 1983...

This is the history of the Motorola Dynatac 8000x: the world's very first commercial cell phone. It's a story that begins in the 1970s and is followed by a massive uphill battle that lasted a decade and cost more than $100 million. But in 1983, the Dynatac 8000x finally hit the market.

The giant brick of a phone slowly caught on, and also became a part of pop culture; from Wall Street to Bayside, the mobile revolution was truly underway...

Bonus 1980s content: Patreon.com/80s

The Discovery of The Titanic May 01, 2024

Show notes

Titanic was called the 'Ship of Dreams,' and for oceanographer Robert Ballard, his dream had always been to find the most famous shipwreck of them all. Today, we travel back to September 1985 and revisit an event many thought would never happen.

The discovery of The Titanic made headlines around the world, but was there more going on beneath the surface than we realized? Was the search for the legendary ship just a coverup for a top-secret, Cold War mission...?

Bonus audio content: Patreon.com/80s

Flight of the Navigator: The Groundbreaking & Beloved Movie Apr 24, 2024

Show notes

It all came from a dream... In the summer of 1986, a new movie hit theatres. It mixed science-fiction and adventure and when it came to computer-generated imagery; it was quite ahead of its time.

This is a look back at Flight of the Navigator, a movie that many see as an underrated sci-fi gem, but had a big influence on the future of movie-making. It combined cutting-edge tech with practical effects and even featured a pretty recognizable voice...

Because of some extremely tough competition, Flight of the Navigator wasn't a box office blockbuster but eventually found a big audience on home video. Today, we look back on the innovation, imagination, and making of an 80s classic. Compliance!

The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

Fraggle Rock: The Creation, the Impact & the Legacy Apr 17, 2024

Show notes

What if there was a show so significant it could put an end to war? This was the approach taken by Jim Henson when he laid the foundation for Fraggle Rock.

Henson didn't want to create some ordinary show, but a program that showed us the importance of taking care of ourselves, our environment, and each other. Besides being colorful, musical, and fun--the new show might just change the world...

What we got was one of the most unique kids' shows of all time. A show that quickly spread around the globe and changed how television was made. Not only was it beloved by kids, but Fraggle Rock also became cable TV pioneers.

The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

The Betamax Case: When the VCR Was Almost Banned... Apr 10, 2024

Show notes

If you grew up during the 80s, you probably had a collection of VHS tapes. From new movie releases to your tapes with all your favorite TV shows or music videos, home video was a cornerstone of our entertainment. And all of that almost never happened...

If things had gone differently, home recording would have been illegal and the VCR as we know it may have been banned for good. This is the story of the Betamax Case, which pitted the movie studios against Sony and the new machine the studios saw as violating copyright laws.

It's the story that goes back to the early days of the VCR, back-and-forth legal decisions, and then a drawn-out case that went all the way to the Supreme Court. As 1984 began, the future of our home entertainment hung in the balance, but an unexpected witness came in to help save the day for the VCR...

The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

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